Creating and launching a web application with credentials

Abstract

Various embodiments provide a mechanism to allow end users to install web applications and websites onto their desktop. In accordance with one or more embodiments, client-side code can be utilized to allow developers associated with a website to define boundaries associated with user interaction, and have those boundaries enforced by a run-time engine. In at least some embodiments, developers can provide, through JavaScript code and/or HTML markup, various configurations for the creation of a start menu shortcut, navigation, and so-called jumplist integration.

The invention claimed is:  
     
       1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
 initiating, on a client device, an installation process to install a web application associated with a website, wherein the installation process comprises creating a web application file, the web application file configured to include data associated with launching a website via a web application mode browser; 
 obtaining session information of a current web session associated with the website; 
 obtaining credentials related to the session information; and 
 associating the credentials related to the session information with the web application. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein associating the credentials comprises generating an identification number. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating an identification number is based upon the session information, or login information, or both. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining credentials comprises querying a credentials store. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining session information comprises using a shared memory component between a browser rendering content associated with the website and the installation process. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the credentials comprise a username and password. 
     
     
       7. One or more computer-readable hardware storage media having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, implement a method comprising:
 receiving selection of a web application to launch; 
 responsive to receiving selection of the web application to launch, launching the web application via a web application mode browser, wherein the web application mode browser is configured to:
 enable navigation to domains associated with the web application within the web application mode browser; and 
 instantiate a default browser for navigation to domains outside of the domains associated with the web application; 
 
 retrieving credentials associated with the web application; 
 retrieving a start Uniform Resource Locator (URL) associated with the web application; and 
 autonomously logging in to an associated website using the credentials. 
 
     
     
       8. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 7 , wherein the credentials associated with the web application comprise a username and password. 
     
     
       9. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 7 , wherein the credentials associated with the web application are associated through use of an identification number based at least in part upon the credentials. 
     
     
       10. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 7 , wherein retrieving credentials associated with the web application further comprises retrieving the credentials from a web application credentials store. 
     
     
       11. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 10 , wherein retrieving the credentials from the web application credentials store further comprises using a reference back to a different credentials store to retrieve the credentials. 
     
     
       12. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 7 , wherein receiving selection of a web application to launch further comprises receiving the selection via a tool bar or a desktop start menu. 
     
     
       13. One or more computer-readable hardware storage media embodying:
 a credentials store, the credentials store comprising:
 one or more data entries, wherein a data entry comprises:
 data identifying a web application that is integrated on a client device; and 
 associated user credentials for a website associated with the web application; and 
 
 
 software code configured to enable the web application to be launched on the client device and for the user credentials to be used automatically to log an associated user into the website responsive to the web application being launched. 
 
     
     
       14. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 13 , wherein the associated user credentials comprise a username and password. 
     
     
       15. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 13 , wherein the data identifying the web application comprises an identification number based at least in part on the associated user credentials. 
     
     
       16. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 13 , wherein the associated user credentials comprise a copy of credentials from a different credential store. 
     
     
       17. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 13 , wherein the data entry further comprises a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). 
     
     
       18. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 13 , wherein at least a second data entry comprises:
 data identifying a second web application that is integrated on the client device; and 
 associated user credentials for a website associated with the second web application, wherein the website is also associated with the first-mentioned web application. 
 
     
     
       19. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 18 , wherein the associated user credentials for the website associated with the second web application are different user credentials than associated user credentials for the first-mentioned web application. 
     
     
       20. The computer-readable hardware storage media of  claim 19 , wherein the software code is further configured to enable the second web application to be launched and use different user credentials to automatically log a second user into the website responsive to the second web application being launched.